Video Link : https://youtu.be/3S3SFyqhvGY
Directed and Filmed by: Ian Anthony Wijono (3035898963)
Subdivided City : Sidewalks of “Central” and Kennedy Town
“Hong Kong, the city that never sleeps” is a famous phrase used by the western media to portray Hong Kong’s night time. Hong Kong is often viewed as one of the busiest cities in the world. But is it really the case? Why does this small Asian city have such a nickname? In my video, I want to explore the night time of Hong Kong sidewalks as a subdivided city.
Hong Kong sidewalks are accessible for anyone at any time, and they take on a different atmosphere during the night, compared to how they are during the day. One area that showcase this is the sidewalks of Hong Kong’s “Central” area. We can find that this area is most crowded at night. At night, the street is crowded with people gathering, socializing, and partying together. We can also see bright skyscrapers, some of which even project light shows.
Although one part of Hong Kong is getting busier, confirming the quote “Hong Kong, the city that never sleeps”, we find other parts of Hong Kong that are in contrast emptier during the night. In these places, people can enjoy the sidewalk as a quiet, calming, and tranquil place. For a moment, we can escape from the busy life of Hong Kong and just enjoy the beauty of the city. The sidewalks I use for this part are around the Kennedy Town area. During the day, the sidewalks of Kennedy Town have many shops, cafes, and restaurants. Therefore, it always has a crowded and bustling atmosphere. However, at night, the shops, cafes, and restaurants are mostly closed. Furthermore, Kennedy Town contains many residential areas which represent the majority of places in Hong Kong. And in these places, we can truly appreciate a peaceful walk on the sidewalks. According to a journal article, the perception of people towards Hong Kong cityscape at day time and night time is different (Huang and Wang, 2018). As a result, one place can feel like two different places during the day and night, especially in Hong Kong urban areas. During the day, we cannot truly admire the beauty of the buildings in Hong Kong.
Despite being Hong Kong’s most crowded area at night, Lan Kwai Fong in “Central” was not always such a lively place. According to a news article, the area was previously a residential area (SCMP Reporter, 2007). But as the Hong Kong city grew and became more lively at night, this area was able to follow and transform into what it is today. Proving that the busy night time happening on these sidewalks is only possible because of its urban growth.
According to another article, the night public lighting also plays an important role to set the ambience in an area during night time and lower crime rate (Painter, 1996). The street lighting system of Hong Kong is bright enough and covers most areas. Because of that, as reported in the HK government website, the night crime rate in Hong Kong is low (Hong Kong Police Force, 2017). Thus, it is possible for pedestrians to feel safe and calm while walking on the sidewalks at night and enjoy the city.
Most of the videos taken are handhold shots with a third-person perspective that allows the viewer to imagine they are taking a walk on the sidewalks at night while observing the environment. To capture the buildings that are visible from the sidewalks, some tilt shots and panning shots are included in the video. The tilt shots are used to capture “Central” that is filled with tall skyscrapers. Meanwhile, the panning shot was used to capture Kennedy Town that has less skyscrapers and tall buildings, but less crowded, so more of the surroundings can be seen (Adorama, 2022). And to create a contrast between the two segments of the video, the video in the first part feature more camera movement, including a crash zoom to add a dynamic feel to the crowded environment. Meanwhile, the second part was shot steadily to emphasize the tranquility of the less-crowded surroundings. The transition between the two parts is accomplished through the use of two zoom shots that showed how the environment can be very different on the sidewalk outside of the same convenience store (7 eleven).
To conclude, I believe this video is able to unveil the unique character of sidewalks in Hong Kong that can only be appreciated at night. And the differences in geography, culture, and socioeconomic status give each neighborhood its own unique character and charm, making Hong Kong a city of endless discovery and exploration. It can also remind us that even the most familiar surroundings can take on a new and exciting dimension when viewed through a different lens.
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